Trash disposal device

ABSTRACT

A trash disposal device adapted for sink-side use in a plurality of modes comprises a rectangular open-topped container fitting within a rectangular open ended body member having at its upper end a reentrant flange overlying the rim of and extending into the container to prevent particles entering between the member and the container or a liner therefor.

o Wmted States Patent 1 1 [111 Wmse Traverse ,HUWB 26, 1973 [54] TRASH DISPOSAL DEVICE 3,309,160 3/1967 Lewis 220/1 T [76] Invent: w FTP-" s 706 washingmn 2,888,222 4x32; Lo di l l older 2231 1; Street Dorchester, Mass 3,484,017 12/1969 ODonnell 220/1 T [221 Filed: Feb. 22, 1971 Primary Examzner-Herbert F. Ross PP N04 1171441 Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus Att0meyGeorge C. Fuller 52 US. Cl. 220/65 220 1 T, 229 14 BE, 1 224/23 ET 57 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl 865d 25/14, B65d 25/34 A r h dispo l evice adapte for sink-side use in a [58] Field of Search 220/63, 65, 4 E, pl y of m es compri e a rectangular open- 220/1 T; 229/14 R, 14 BE, 23 R, 23 HT, 23 A topped container fitting within a rectangular open ended body member having at its upper end a reentrant [56] References Cited flange overlying the rim of and extending into the con- UNITED STATES PATENTS tainer to prevent particles entering between the mem- 2,873,881 2 1959 Nichols 220 4 R her and the mmame' a therefcr' 3,115,986 12/1963 Groff 220/65 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEDwnzs 1m fnvenzor Roberi F Traverse By his Afforney %Mf C M TRASH DISPOSAL DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to improvements in trash disposal devices and more particularly to improvements in such devices which improvements enhance the cleanliness in use and the scope of use of these devices while retaining simplicity of construction thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art Known trash receptacles adapted for sink-side use are generally limited to one or two basic modes of use, for example, to enclose disposable containers such as used milk cartons or plastic bags. Accordingly the appeal of such devices is restricted, as to potential customers or users, in accordance with their working habits and the extent of their convenient and cheap access to suitable disposable containers.

Further, such devices suffer generally from the ease with which they can become befouled by particle of garbage or the like dropping between the container and its supporting enclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved trash disposal device which can be manufactured cheaply and which will, through its suitability for many different modes of use, have a wide appeal to potential users.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved trash disposal device of the type comprising an inner container at least partly enclosed by a hollow outer body member, which device is so organized as to prevent entry of particles between the container and the member.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved trash disposal device adapted for sink-side use and having enhanced utility to customers of milk companies which provide a convenient source of disposable containers in the form of milk cartons and bread wrappers.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved trash disposal device attractive to milk companies for distribution to its customers for good will or advertising, and to their customers because of its convenience and cleanliness in use.

To these ends and in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improved trash disposal device comprising inner and outer hollow rectangular body members, the inner member fitting within the outer. The inner member is closed at the bottom end and open at the other at which the side walls terminate at a rim. The outer body member while open at both ends has a reentrant flange at the upper end. The flange is of uniform thickness and extends from the side walls at an acute interior angle that when the members are assembled as by telescoping the inner member into the' outer member through the opening at the bottom end thereof, the flange extends into the inner member, thereby preventing particles of trash directed into the opening at the top from getting into the space between the members. While for certain purposes the inner member may b collapsible and disposable, I prefer in providing a broad range of use modes to construct the body members of rigid material, suitably molded plastic, the members matching in exterior decoration. This permits a mode of use in which the outer member with its flange fitted over the rim of an empty milk carton serves as a garbage disposal device while the original rigid inner member serves as a matching storage unit for soap pads and the like. Advantageously also I prefer to provide simple covers for the members; the cover for the inner member having a friction fit with the bottom of the member for carriage thereby when the member is disposed within the outer member.

A modification in which the outer body member extends only partly down a milk carton used as the inner member exposes a portion of the carton for notices or advertisements by a milk company.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention is one embodiment thereof comprises an inner hollow rectangular body member 10 and an outer hollow rectangular body member 12 fitting within the member 10.

The inner body member 10 is closed at one end 14 by an end wall 16 (FIG. 2) and has side walls 18 terminating, at the other end of the member 10, at a rim 20 defining an opening at that end.

The outer body member 12 is open at both ends and has side walls 22 terminating at one end at a reentrant flange 24. The member 12 is operative to receive the member 10 in telescoped relation with the flange 24 entering the member 10 and overlying the rim 20. A limit to the telescoping movement of the members is established by abutment of the rim 20 and the interior surface of the flange 24 but there is free relative movement of translation of thebody members into and out of such abutting relation so that the outer member may be readily removed for disposition of the contents. To insure that in operative disposition Supported upright on a flat surface the flange enters the inner member, the length of the outer member 12, less the inward projection of the flange 24, is established as less than the length of the body member 10.

A cover 26 is provided for the flanged end of the outer member 12, and a cover 2% is provided for the open end of the inner member 10, the covers suitably having an easy fit on these ends for convenient manipulation. Advantageously, the cover 2% has friction fit on the closedend 14 of the inner member for carriage thereby when the device is shipped or is used in a mode such as that illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein a cover is not needed for the inner member. To accommodate the cover 28 in the body member 12 when so carried, the end opposite the flanged end of the bodymember 12 may be relieved or tapered slightly outward to provide a fit permitting the ready separation of the body members.

The device of the present invention may be used for relatively clean trash, such as pieces of hardware, in the mode illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the trash is collected directly in a rigid inner body member.

In another mode of use illustrated by FIG. 2, a plastic bag liner 30, suitably a bread wrapper, is supported by the inner member 10. The margin of the liner 30 is folded over the rim 20 and is held in place and neatly concealed by the flange 24 and side walls 22 of the outer member 12 when the members are assembled.

In still another mode of use illustrated by FIG. 3, the outer body member 12 is employed with an empty milk carton 32 forming the inner body member. Where the device was originally provided with a rigid inner body member, suitably with exterior decoration matching that of the member 12, the rigid member may be used as a unit of a matching set, either open end up with its cover therefor as a container for soap pads or the like, or open end down, with the cover still carried on the closed end, as a decorative cover for detergent bottles or the like.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modification comprising an inner body member 40, suitably a milk carton, and an outer body member 42 having a reentrant flange 24 in which the outer body member 42 is substantially shorter than the inner body member 40, thereby revealing, in assembled relation, with the flange 24 overlying the rim of the member .40, a major portion of the side wall surfaces of said member 40. Thus milk companies, if they so desire, can supply customers with milk cartons carrying advertising, notices, or the like on the surfaces to be exposed in furtherance of their customer relations. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A device for disposing of trash comprising, in combination,

an inner hollow generally rectangular body member, said inner member being closed at one end and having side walls terminating, at the other end, at a rim defining an opening at that end, and an outer hollow generally rectangular body member open at both ends and having side walls terminating at one end at a reentrant flange of uniform thickness extending from the walls at an acute interior angle thereto, said inner member fitting within the outer member for free relative movement of translation into and out of a relative disposition in which said rim and said flange abut, the length of said outer body member, less the inward projection of said flange, being less than the length of the inner container, whereby, when said members are supported on a flat surface in upright assembled relation the flange extends into the inner container. 2.- A device as defined in claim 1 and additionally comprising a cover for said inner member, said member being formed to provide with said cover an easy fit on the open end of said member and a friction fit on the closed end thereof. 

1. A device for disposing of trash comprising, in combination, an inner hollow generally rectangular body member, said inner member being closed at one end and having side walls terminating, at the other end, at a rim defining an opening at that end, and an outer hollow generally rectangular body member open at both ends and having side walls terminating at one end at a reentrant flange of uniform thickness extending from the walls at an acute interior angle thereto, said inner member fitting within the outer member for free relative movement of translation into and out of a relative disposition in which said rim and said flange abut, the length of said outer body member, less the inward projection of said flange, being less than the length of the inner container, whereby, when said members are supported on a flat surface in upright assembled relation the flange extends into the inner container.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1 and additionally comprising a cover for said inner member, said member being formed to provide with said cover an easy fit on the open end of said member and a friction fit on the closed end thereof. 